ILLUSTRATION AND VISUAL NARRATIVE - TASK 1 & 2

24/09/2024 - 22/10/2024 (Week 1 - Week 5)
Felice Jolin 0373636
Illustration and Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Task 1 - Vormator Challenge

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1. Lecture

2. Introduction

3. Task 1 - Vormator Challenge

4. Task 2 - Composition 

5. Reflection 

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1. LECTURE 

WEEK 1 (19/09/24)
Mr, Hafiz brief us about Illustration and visual narrative throught google classroom with various videos. Also provide us with tutorial game for learning how to use pen tool. Below is an example from one of the activity of using pen tool.

Figure 1.1 Pen Tool Exercise

WEEK 2 (26/09/24)
Mr. Hafiz told us about briefly about each task that we need to complete based on the deadline given. He then explain about task 1 and gave tutorial on how to trace element in Adobe Illustrator. 

WEEK 3 (10/10/24)
Mr. Hafiz taught us about how to use pathfinder to make logo famous logo shapes. Also to apply pathfinder in making the shading for vormator. Below is the example of the exercise during class. Some of the shapes here are made using ellipse and rectangle, with the help of pathfinder, I am able to cut and delet unwanted shapes.

Figure 1.2 Adidas Logo

WEEK 4 (17/10/24)
Mr.Hafiz introduce us to adobe colour, we can search for many colour palette and colour references based on the theme we want. We can also customize colours of our taste. With colour palette we could make gradient mash ; object - create gradient mesh.

Figure 1.3 Gradient Mesh

We were introduced to pathfinder and shadebuilder to make patterns and shadow.

Figure 1.4 Gradient and Shadow

WEEK 5 (24/10/24)
There is no physical class this week, however we should send sketches of our compostition for the vormator background through Mr. Havis Whatsapp. Mr. Hafiz feedback was for me to use one of the framed ink template, he suggested me to use the large, medium and small template.

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2. Introduction

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3. Task 1 / Vormator Challenge

We were asked to createa character from the 8 shapes below in Adobe Illustrator with specific rules such as:

• Create a unique character by combining and manipulating these shapes, without stretching or altering the shapes. 
• Resize object without altering the proportions
  

    WEEK 1

• The Shapes
  

 

Figure 2.1 Vormator Shapes

 

• References 
  

Figure 2.2 Labubu

 

I was insipired by the character Labubu. However, the character of Labubu has a typical mouth and teeth shape that is quite scary which I don't really like, so I came up with an idea to modify the character into something cuter with more rounded face. 

 

Figure 2.3 Line Freinds

In addition, because my favourite weather is winter, I will put on winter outfit for my character. I get my inpiration from line friends character for winter theme, I think that the design is fresh and fun and decided to make it as my reference.

 
    WEEK 2

• Silhouetter Process
  
   
  

 Figure 2.3 Vormator Silhouette

 

As for making the character, firstly, I trace the 8 shapes, some with pen tool and others with basic shapes like rectangle and using direct selection tool to align with the shape given. Then I continue with duplicating, stacking, combining and resize the shape by holding shift in order to remain the original shape, trial and error to get the shape I want.  As for the silhouette, I use the colour black, red and white as mentioned by Mr, Hafiz only 3 colours are allowed. After done with the silhouette, I also convert it into outline. In addition, I named my character Leo as it symbolize strength and courage. So I combine two aspect, cute design but with bold personality.

    WEEK 3

• Colour and Shadow
  
  
  
  Figure 3.1 Colour Palette
  
  
  This is the colour palatte i'm using for my character, i gave combination of bright and dark colours to give out contrast.
  
  
  Figure 3.2 Vormator Design Colour
  
  

Figure 3.3 Vormator Design with Shadow

 

After finishing with the sillouette, I proceed to colour my character. This week I try to make shading and change the color in order to form a dimension and making it look more realistic. I use the tool pathfinder and shape builder to combine shapes and cute shapes for the shading. As winter is identic with red colour, I use it for Leo's coat, and as my favourite colour is blue, I apply it on Leo's scarf and jenas. 

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4. Task 2 / Composition

• Background Story
  I gave his name Leo, to portray braveness and strong yet friendly. As I love rabbit, I searched for reference and was inspired by the character ‘Labubu’ however the character seems quite scary so I decided to take it as a reference and modify it cuter. I would like to make a leader character who is friendly but got integrity. Leo is the  head of the town where he is responsible to take care of the security and safety. The residents all respect and look up on him because Leo always set enemy away from them and bring peace to the town.
  

        WEEK 4

• Landscape Reference
  
  
  
  
  I would like to make a winter theme where the scene is Leo's house with mountain view while snowing.
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  I also use this 'Big, medium, small' frame ink as a reference. Where implication of different sizes make image more alive and give depth into it.
  
  
  WEEK 5
  
  
• Landscape Sketch
  
  
  
  Sketch #1, this sketch was quite simple and does not really tells story, so I come up with the other one.
  
  
  
  Sketch #2, I try to modify my design, balance the element and to elaborate the story through picture. Also from Mr. Hafiz suggestion to use the template big, medium, and small. The I understood with that composition, the picture got depth and flow.
  
  
•  Landscape Digitisation
  
  
  
  
  I first design it in AI based on my first sketch but modified a bit. I feel that this is quite rigid, not flowy and do not really resemblance the message.
  
  
  
  
  
  This is my second design, following the second sketch, I personally like this one better, as the elements in composition relates to each other, however I am not satisfied with this one yet.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I add more details into my design and look back into the framed ink template, to discover that i should distinct the size of my elements, there for I diviede them into big, medium and small. Big as shown the tree which is until cropped out of frame. Medium is my character and the narrative story, while small is the small things behind such as small trees, house and the other residence.
  
  
  
  I notice that my cloud is quite odd, therefore I flip it upside down and I think this way is better. I also delete the element sun and change the sky colour into gradient yellow to make it simpler.
  
  
• Pokemon Card
  
  
  
  
  
• Background Story
  Leo, as head of the town, he is responsible to look after the people and the security and safety. As a leader, he was respect and many look up on him because he always makesure the residence safe by setting enemy away from them and bring peace to the town. When feeling danger situation, Leo is always alert, Leo will protect the town, family and other residence with his power which is shooting out snowball to enemy for every foot step and with his power he has brought comfort and safety for everyone. For this picture, Leo is going for a fight, the family and others send him and they are all waiting for Leo to comeback soon. They are all sending love to Leo hoping Leo comback safe. Leo is very brave and fight with who smile.
   

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5. Reflection

In the beginning, I was struggling to trace the shapes, because I take details into my principle so I took  a lot of time tracing.I directly do the task 1 digitally because I find it easier if I try and error with the shapes given in AI. Turn out that it is quite hard to combing those shapes to get the shape that I want, I was struggling but I enjoyed the was able to see my progress in the final output. I was having fun experimenting the landscape for my character as we are given freedom to create our own world starting from the sketches and also digitalize one. I am able to express myself more throught the designs.

 

This exercise is effective to train us designer when limitation of sources is applied, we are able to think more creative, find solutions and at the end of this exercise I realized that a simple shape could form  variative design of one's taste. While for Task 2, I have found that great composition distinction of element size, and layout leads to good design as it could deliver the message well.